Platform Rocker, 1882-1900

In 1882, German immigrant and furniture maker George Hunzinger patented a torsion bar system to keep rockers from moving across the floor while the sitter rocked. A major innovation in furniture technology, these platform rockers revolutionized American parlors. Hunzinger's line of rockers were imitated by competitors, but were made using springs and other technologies to avoid infringing on Hunzinger's patent.